Printing mechanism



NOV. 23, M GARBELL PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 28, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 23, 1937.

M. GARBELL 2,100,213

PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 28, 1935 3 SheetsLSheet 2 Nov. 23, 1937. M. GARBELL. 2,100,213

PRINTINGMECHANISM Filed Dec. 28, 1935 :s sheets-sheet 5 v Patented Nov. 23, 19.37

PRINTING MECHANISM Max Gar-bell, Chicago. lll., assignoll to Victor Adding Machine Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application December 28, 1935, Serial No. 56,465

8 Claims.

This invention `relates to improvements in a printing mechanism adapted for use in connection with adding and recording machines, and is more particularly directed to a type wherein a platen is employed to receive the impact and which serves to feed either the usual record strip therearound or a card placed tangentially therewith Within the machine with the printing mechanism arranged and constructed in such manner, so as to permit of the placing of the card into printing position without interference with the printing mechanism during its operation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a printing mechanism adapted to impinge the platen under the control of the actuating mechanism of the machine, and wherein the platen is arranged on a carriage for bodily positioning the strip or card with respect to the printing mechanism to selectively position the imprinting in the desired position.

In order to accomplish these results, the printlng mechanism is provided with a locking and tripping means that is arranged and constructed in a novel manner so as to permit of the vertical positioning of the card while the same is being used, and to form an automatic feed for said card during the successive printing operations ofthe printing mechanism.

A further object is the provision of a printing the printing elements are bodily carried for an impact and which are normally in spaced relation therewith, providing a relatively long space therebetween for positioning a relatively sti 35 card into the space between said elements and the platen and on which platen the usual paper strip may be trained when the imprinting is desired thereon, in preference to the use of the card. And a further object is the provision of means 40 for inserting a relatively stiff card vertically within the machine and permitting the same to be fed by the platen feed means without having the same bend or be distorted as is usual when feeding a card around the platen, and permits of the use of a relatively stiff card which may be used for filing purposes, and which remains relatively at and in perfect condition during the imprinting thereon; to provide feed rolls coactingwith the platen for feeding the card or record strip upon each operation of the machine.

Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and claims.

Referring to the drawings: is Figure 1 is a partial detail medial sectional mechanism employing a platen against which view of a machine embodying my improved printing mechanism.

Figure 2 ls a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating a changed position.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the printing mechanism taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a detail cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 1, illustrating the feed rolls coacting with the platen for feeding either a record strip or a card placed vertically within the machine; and

Figure 5 is a view in reduced size of a card on which a record has been made in vertical columns thereon.

The reference numeral I0 designates the depressible keys of the adding machine which are arranged in banks, and which are each provided with the stems I I extending through and suit- .ably guided in a, keyboard I2, with the lower ends I la of the stems adapted to coact with a rack bar I3 when depressed. A rack bar i3 is arranged for reciprocating movements below each bank of keys I under the control of the actuating mechanism of the machine, (not shown), and is releasably locked while in its normal position by means of a lock member lli, operatively connected with the keyboard I2. Each bank of keys effects a movement of `a lock member Ill coasting therewith and releases the same from engagement with a rack I3 controlled by the keys in that bank, and upon the restoring stroke of the actuating mechanlsm of the machine, a clearing bar I2a is rocked upwardly, which effects the release of the depressed keys and which also serves to restore the lock members I4 to their normal positions to again engage the racks I3, when said racks are restored to their normal positions.

It is to these reciprocating racks I3 that my improved printing mechanism is operatively connected, and the reciprocating movement of each individual rack controls the positioning of one of a series of type Ia provided on the sector, into printing position with respect to a platen I6, and the distance of movement of the rack selects the type to be brought into printing relation with the platen. These individual sectors I5 are also arranged to be -bodily moved to impinge the platen and to be bodily moved with each other in their lower denominational order, that is, the mechanism controlling the sector of higher order controls the operation of the sector of next lower order throughout the machine.

Each individual sector and its mechanism is arranged and constructed in a like manner and its operations and functions being the same, it is thought that a description of one will sufhce for -a description of all.

Each of the sectors I5 is operatively connected to a rack I3 in the following manner:

A link |1 has one end pivotally connected vwith the rack I3 by means of a pin I8 and has its other end connected by means of a pin I9 to a leg 29 of a rockable spider member 2|, which is pivotally carried on a transversely extending shaft 22 in the side walls 23 of the adding machine.

A connecting link 24 is pivotally connected to a leg 25 of the rockable spider member 2| by means of a pin 26 and is directed upwardly and is pivotally connected to a sector I5 at 21.

The sector I5 is pivotally supportedfor swinging movements at 28 on the sector supporting arm 29 that is pivotally mounted for swinging movements on a fixed shaft 30, carried in the side walls 23 of the machine. The sector supporting arm 29 depends below the shaft 30 and provides an extension or rest 3|, which has a tension spring 3|a fixed thereto and to a cross member 23a secured to the side walls 23 of the machine and this spring 3Ia normally tends to urge the extension 3| against a transversely extending shaft 32 carried on a pair of depending arms 33 fixedly arranged for swinging movements with a shaft 34 that is pivotally carried in the side walls 23 of the machine. These depending arms 33 have their free ends pivotally connected at 315 to a pair of pull links 36 which are operatively connected to the actuating mechanism and which serve to swing the arms upon their movement. The depending arms 33 also carry a transversely extending shaft 31 that is fixed for swinging movements therewith and which is adapted to normally abut the underneath edge 38 of an` integral laterally extending projection 39 on the sector supporting arm 29. The projection 39 also extends into the path of a dog 40 which is carried on a transversely extending shaft 4| that is secured to the side Walls 23 of the machine and which is urged over the projection 39 by means of a spring 42 which serves to lock this projection 39 ywith the underneath edge 38 thereof against the shaft 31, to rigidly retain the sector supporting arm 29 with the sector I5, in locked normal position and in spaced relation with respect to the platen I 6.

'I'he shaft 4| also serves to carry a lock arm 43 pivotally arranged for rocking movements thereon and is urged in one direction by means of the spring 42 which serves to maintain a tension on the dog 40 and the lock arm 43 which has a portion 43al that is provided with a notched-out portion 44 adapted to underlie and engage an ear 45 on the extension 3| of the sector supporting arm 29 under'the tension of the spring 42. The engagement of the notched-out portion 44 with ear 45 on the extension 3| of the sector supportingr arm 29 independently of the dog 40 which will be hereinafter more clearly described.

Adjacent the notch 44, the lock arm 43 is provided with a right-angled extension 46 that is adapted to overlie a similar right-angled exten-- sion 46 on the adjacent lock arm 43 of lower order thereof, for effecting its movement upon the movement of the lock arm 43.

Each of the lock arms 43 throughout the series of units are arranged to control an adjacent lock arm of lower order upon its movement, which is controlled by the movement of the rockable spider member 2| upon the movement of a rack I3 to which said spider member is connected by means of the link I1. The lock arm 43 is controlled by the movements of the rockable spider member and is` arranged for contacting engagement with a roller 48 on the leg 4l of the rockable spider member 2|, which roller is normally adapted to rest in a recess 49 of a cam surface 50 on the underneath edge of the lock arm 43 so that upon movement of the rockable spider member 2|, the roller 48 will be caused to ride out of the recess 49 and over the cam surface 50 and cause an upward rocking movement of the lock arm 43 on the shaft 4I and a downward rocking movement of the portion 43a thereof, and carry the notch 44 thereon out of engagement with the ear 45 on the extension 3| of the sector supporting arm 29.

As thus far described, it will be noted, that the depression of a key in' the keyboard I2, positions the lower end Ila of the key into the path of movement of the rack bar I3 coacting therewith, and it is the movement of this rack bar under the control of the actuating mechanism of the machine (not shown), that controls the rocking movements of the rockable spider member 2| to pivotally position the sector with the selected type thereof into the printing line by means of the link 24. The movement of this rockable spder member 2| also eiects the movement of the lock arm 43 to release the same from the ear 45 on the extension 3| of the sector supporting arm 29, at which time, this sector supporting arm 29 is retained in normal position by means of the dog 40.

The pull links 36 are connected tothe actuating mechanism, (not shown), and are actuated thereby for a pulling strain thereon, at near the limit movement of the operating stroke of the .actuating mechanism, which movement effects a swinging movement of the depending arms 33 to carry the shafts 32 and 31 therewith. This swinging movement of the depending arms 33 bodily carries the shaft 32 away from the extension 3| of the sector supporting arm 29 and simultaneously carries the shaft 31 against the dog 49 to urge the same against its spring 42 to release the projection 39 of the sector supporting arm 29 and render the arm free thereof to be spring-impelled by means of the tension spring 3Ia for-an impact of a selected type of the sector |5 against the platen I6.

Upon the restoring movement of the actuating mechanism of the machine, the pull links 36 will be restored to their normal positions and carry the depending arms 33 to their normal positions and restore the shafts 32 and 31 therewith, which will effect the restoring movement of the sector supporting arms 29 to normal position and bodily carry the sectors I5 out of contact with the platen. The restoring movement of the depending arms 33 causes the shaft 32 to engage the extensions 3| of the sector supporting arms 29 and rock the same until the under edge 38 of the projection 39 is brought to rest 'on the shaft 31 at which time, the tension of the spring 42 will urge the dog 40 over the projection 39 to again lock the sector supporting arm 29 against movement CFI able spider member 2l for a reverse rocking movement therewith and effect a pulling strain on the link 24 to restore the sector I5. The restoring movement of the rockable spider member 2l under the control of the rack I3 serves to guide the lock arm 53 by means of the roller 48 on the leg 61 engaging the cam surface 50 of the lock arm G3 until the roller 48 enters into the re cess 49 which is at the limit movement of the rockable spider member 2l, and at which time, the notch 64 on the portion 43a of the lock arm 43, will again engage the ear and releasably secure the sector supporting arm 29 in rigid locked position.

In order to rigidly guide the sectors I5 while in their normal positions and during the time they are being moved for an impact against the platen I6, I provide novel guide means on the sector supporting arm 29 which coacts with the sector, and which coacts with a comb fixed to the keyboard I2.

The sector I5 is provided with an arcuate slot opening I5b into which a stud I5c extends and is secured to an extension I5d on the sector supporting arm 29. The slot I5b and stud I5c serve to guide the sector I5 during its rocking movements on the pin 28, while the sector is being adjusted through the movement of the rack I3 and link' 24 to position the selected type I5a in the printing line.

During the time that the sector I5 is being bodily carried to impinge the platen I6. the sector supporting arm 29 is guided in a comb I2a which is secured to the .keyboard I2 and isl adapted to receive an extension 29a adjacent the pin 28 at the free end of the sector supporting arm. The comb I2a extends toward the platen a sufilcient distance so as to guide the extension 29a at the time that the sector I5 is contacting the platen, and the comb I2a serves with the stud I5c to rigidly guide the sector, while it is being bodily m'oved, and the comb I2a serving as a type bar guide during these movements.

With the type sectors I5 arranged for bodily swinging movements as above described, it is possible to arrange and construct the operating mechanism therefor, which is operatively connected with the rack bars' and to the actuating mechanism of the machine, in a manner, so that a vertical space or opening is provided in the machine, and in which space, a card 5I may be inserted between the sectors I5 and the platen I6. With this printing mechanism in use on the machine, the usual record strip 52 may be employed or the card 5I may be inserted in place of the record strip.

The platen I6 is arranged in the usual manner l for a step-by-step feed or line spacing, being provided with a ratchet-wheel 53 fixed thereto and is engaged by a spring-urged pawl 54 which is pivotally connected at 55 to a rocker 56 carried for rocking movements on a shaft 51 and is urged in -one direction by means of a spring 58. The rocker 56 is provided with an extension 59 that is.

adapted to be engaged by an upwardly extending portion 60 of a bell-crank 6I pivotally carried at 62 on a bracket 63 that is fixed to the underneath side of the carriage plate 64 and has its lower end portion depending into the path of an extension 65 of the pull links 36 and is normally urged thereagainst by means of the torsion spring 66.

Upon the operating stroke of the machine, the pull links 36 are drawn forwardly or to the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, which permits the bellcrank 6I to move therewith by means of its spring 66 which causes the rocker 56 to rock on the shaft 51 by means of its spring 58 and the pawl 54 to be carried therewith to engage a tooth in the ratchet-wheel 53 preparatory to advancing the platen one step. Upon the restoring movement of the pull links 36, the bell-crank 6I will be restored to its normall position against the tension cf the spring 66 and the rocker 56 will be rocked thereby against the tension of its spring 58 and cause the pawl 54 to advance the ratchet-wheel 53 and the platen I6 the distance of one tooth.

The platen I6 has a pair of feed rolls 61 coacting ltherewith between which the card 5I is positioned and upon the turning movements of the platen under the influence of the pawl 54, the card 5I will be caused to move for a step-by-step movement upon each operation of the machine. and for vertical printing on the card.

The platen I6 is carried on a carriage designated as a Whole as 68, which is provided with V- shaped rails 69-69 adapted to coact with the companion rails 10-19, xed to the carriage 'plate 64, and which provides a ball-race therebetween for the balls 1I and permits of the longif tudinal movements of the platen with respect to the printing sectors and which also provides for the imprinting of a number of columns on the card 5I.

The feed rolls 61 are carried on resilient supportion 11 to retain these resilient supports 12 in fixed adjusted positions thereon.

The feed rolls 61 are slidably positioned to be moved a greater distance apart than the width of the card 5I to be inserted, and are then slidably positioned on the shaft 15 to overlie the side edges of the card and retain the same in close proximity with the platen.

With this construction of feed rolls 61, a card of any size within the capacity of the carriage may be employed, and the same may be positioned centrally or at either end of the platen, at the will of the operator, and may be manually adjusted for various columns of printing on the cards by moving the carriage while the card is retained in position.

A trough 18 is provided for limiting the downward positioning of the card between the platen I6 and the feed rolls 61 and may be bodily adjusted in vertically extending slot openings 19 in the side walls 23 to accommodate various lengths of cards.

While the form of printing mechanism shown and described is admirably adapted to fulll the objects primarily stated, it is understood that it is not intended to conne the invention to the form or embodiment herein described, for it is susceptible of .embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the rcharacter described, having racks arranged for reciprocating movements, a platen type carriers adapted to selectively impinge the platen, said type carriers being arranged in side-by-side relation and having a series of type thereon, means supporting the type carriers for pivotal movements, means connecting the type carriers with the racks to pivotally move to adjust said type carriers upon the movement of the racks, lock means coacting with said type carrier supporting means rigidly supporting the same, yieldabie means urging said supporting means and type carriers toward thev platen, and means coacting with said lock means for effecting a release thereof with said supporting means upon a predetermined movement of the rack.

2. The combination of claim 1 hereof in which the supporting means for the type carriers are arranged to bodily carry the type carriers tor a parallel movement for an impact against the platen while in their adjusted positions.

3. A printing mechanism adapted to coact With a platen and normally in spaced relation therewith, comprising independently supported sectors having a series of type -thereon adapted to selectively coact with the platen, a support for each of the sectors, said support being arranged for pivotal movements to bodily carry the sector, actuating means, means operatively connecting the actuating means with the sector, means under the control of the actuating means forming a lock for said supporting means, latch means releasably securing the supporting means in locked position, spring means normally urging said supporting means and sector toward the platen, cam means on said lock means engageable by the actuating means for effecting the disengagement of said lock means with the supporting means, means disengaging said latch means from the supporting means and permitting the same to be springimpelled toward the platen for an impact of the selected type on said sector against the platen.

4. In a printing mechanism of the character described adapted to coact with a platen, comprising a plurality of spring-impelled swingable supporting arms, a sector pivotally carried on each of said supporting arms and having a series of type thereon, a keyboard, reciprocating racks controlled by the keyboard, means operatively connecting said racks with said sectors for selecting and positioning the type thereon in printing relation with the platen upon the movement of the racks, actuating means, means under the control of the actuating means forming a lock normally retaining the supporting arms in rigid position, a second means comprising lock members releasably securing the supporting arms in locked position and adapted to be moved under the control of the racks to release the supporting arms, said first and second lock means being sequentially moved to release the supporting arms for a spring-impelled movement thereof to carry the selected type of the sectors for an impact against the platen.

5. A printing mechanism adapted to coact with a platen and normally in spaced relation therewith, comprising independently supported sectors having a series of type thereon and arranged in aligned relation with the platen, a support, said support being arranged for pivotal movements and having a sector pivoted at its top end portion, actuating means, link means connecting the actuating means with the sector, and means under the control of the actuating means forming a lock for said supporting means, spring means normally urging said supporting means and sector toward the platen, cam means on said lock means, and means on said actuating means engaging the cam means effecting a release thereof to release said supporting means to be springimpelled toward the platen for an impact of the selected type on said sector against the platen.

.6. The combination of claim 5 hereof in which there are guide means coacting with the sectors forming means for guiding said sectors while they are being bodily moved for an impact against the platen.

7. The combination of claim 5 hereof in which there are means on the support coacting with y the sector for guiding said sector in its pivotal movements on said support for selectively positionng the type thereon in printing relation with the platen.

8. In a printing mechanism of the character described adapted to coact with a platen for an impact thereagainst, comprising independently supported sectors having a series of type thereon, swingable supports for the sectors, spring means urging said supports and sectors toward the platen, mechanism normally retaining said supports and sectors in spaced relation with the platen against said spring means, actuating mechanism controlling the positioning of the sectors to selectively position the type thereon in printing relation with the platen, means eiecting the release of said retaining mechanism permitting the sectors to be spring-impelled against the platen, and guide means coacting with the swingable supports for guiding said sectors for an impact against the platen.

MAX GARBELL. 

